Edo Assembly gives BEDC four-month deadline over poor power supply

Residents of Edo State are set to see a potential improvement in their electricity supply following a stern directive from the State House of Assembly to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). The lawmakers have issued a strict four-month deadline for the company to rectify the persistent issues of erratic power supply that have plagued the state.

The Assembly's action stems from numerous complaints lodged by dissatisfied residents regarding the BEDC's service delivery. Speaker Blessing Agbebaku emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that failure to address the power supply challenges could incite public protests.

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Failure to address the situation could trigger protests by residents.

In its defense, BEDC's Commercial Officer, Akinyele Ogunleye, pointed to systemic issues, citing a low allocation of electricity from the national grid. He stated that the company receives less than 300 megawatts to serve four states, an amount deemed inadequate to meet the demand of its consumers. This explanation highlights the broader challenges within Nigeria's power sector that affect distribution companies like BEDC.

In a separate but related matter, the House also confirmed Charles Onobvayo as the Executive Director (Projects) for the Edo Ecological Funding and Management Commission, signaling progress in other areas of governance within the state.

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The company receives less than 300 megawatts to serve four states, adding that the supply was inadequate to meet demand.